The Art of Writing an Article By Bholanath Dutta

1. The Art of Writing an Article By Bholanath Dutta

2. INTRODUCTION “ Writing is a skill that anyone can develop provided there is passion, patience, perseverance and practice”

3. INTRODUCTION When people are encourage to speak, they are comfortable. When they are asked to write something they find it difficult to write. Is it because man, by nature , is more interested to speak rather than to write? Or is there any discomfort in writing? Or is it because of both factors and forces besides not having adequate practice?

4. STRATEGY • Writing is a skill anyone can cultivate because for both speaking and writing the thoughts have to flow from the same mind. When we speak we retrieve the data from our mind and same is the case when we write. • Writing is as easy as speaking when one knows the tools and techniques and secrets and strategies.

5. WHY WE SHOULD WRITE ARTICLE? • Writing increase the knowledge base. • Creative writing bring unfold the new paradigm of knowledge. • Review writing consolidate the knowledge on any topic. • Writing enhance the performance of teaching and better delivery, boost the confidence levels. • Writing is must for a teacher.

6. DIFFERENT FORMS OF WRITING • College magazine is the first step. • Article for news paper. • Article for Magazine. • Referred Article for Journal • Research Paper • International Magazine/Journal. • Book (Recommended/Referred)

7. STAGES OF WRITING Pre-writing Stage: • Select the topic that interests you the most. • Once the topic is clear , collect relevant information from various sources like magazines, books, publications and journals. • Surfing various websites can help one gather substantial data. • Talk to your friends about the topics.

8. STAGES OF WRITING • 6Ws of writing an article • What is to be presented? • Whom to present? • From when to start? • Where to stop? • Why to present?

9. WRITING STAGE • Having known 6Ws during pre-writing stage it is equally essential to know how to present the contents creatively and constructively to the readers. • If pre-writing stage provides the skeleton, this stage provides the flesh and blood and becomes the body for the skeleton. • Divide the script into introduction, body and conclusion. In the introduction , briefly stage what you are going to write. In the body part, write what you intended to write. In the conclusion write what you want to restate.

10. WRITING STAGE - Expand and elaborate each idea in each paragraph in a simple, precise and concise manner by taking from the already prepared skeleton stuff. Wherever possible , provided relevant and suitable example to each concept and idea.

11. WRITING TIPS • Maintain conversational tone. The reader should feel that he is not reading but talking to you. • Write it in simple and expressive language. The intention behind writing is to communicate and not to confuse with flowery language. • Convey each idea in each paragraph. If required give examples to support and substantiate your ideas. Also if required use suitable and relevant quotations to prove your point. But do not overdose with too many quotations. • There has to be logical connectivity and flow in the paragraphs and the transition must be smooth.

12. WRITING TIPS • Don’t lose links in the content and ensure that the enthusiasm of the reader is maintained throughout the script. Simultaneously, develop curiosity in the reader so that he reads with a curious and open mind. • Use active voice most of the times and use passive voice only when it is unavoidable. • Motivate and inspire the reader to have long-term impact and effect on his mind. • Keep both the content and context, specific and objective. • When you are giving tips, tools and techniques or points, present it in a bulleted format.

13. WRITING TIPS • Maintain personalized style of approach and use second person ‘you’. And avoid using first person ‘I’. • Avoid using platitudes. • Step into the shoes of the readers and find out their expectations so as to do justification to writing as the readers are spending their precious time, money energy and resources. • While writing , the presentation must be polite and never be harsh. For instance, instead saying harshly as ‘don’t smoke’, say politely “Thanks for not smoking.” • Make the script convenient to read and easy to understand.

14. WRITING TIPS • Avoid repetition of ideas. • Strictly stick to the work count. • Don’t plagiarize. Give due credit to the authors by acknowledging the source.

15. POST-WRITING STAGE • After writing the script, do not read it immediately as you tend to have same flow. Take some time out and read the draft for syntax, grammar and spelling mistakes. • Check if there are any errors and inaccuracies in information. Add new information and ideas. • Leave the script for another day. On next day again you go through , probably you will have new ideas to incorporate. • Again on the next day you go through the article. Once for 2-3 days reviewing is done, it will be finally ready for publication.

16. CULTIVATE WRITING SKILLS • Anybody can inculcate writing skills if there is passion and aptitude to write. • Learning to write is like learning how to swim or drive. • Put down your thoughts on paper. • Writing daily for sometime should become a regular practice. • Read several books, newspapers, magazines and journal and surf various websites related to writing. • Mind is free in the early morning. Write whatever comes in your mind for 10-15 minutes.

17. CULTIVATE WRITING SKILLS • Maintain a separate notebook or diary to note down the information to note down the information related to writing skills . • Form a “Writers Club”

18. CONCLUSION Writing is a skill. Talents are inborn whereas skills can be developed by training. Apart from taping the inherent talents the writing skill can also be acquired by passion, practice, patience and perseverance. “It is true that great writers are not born but made”

19. Questions?